Movement Evolution Philosophy
Where movement science, experience, and purpose meet.
Movement Evolution prides itself in offering the most comprehensive performance training in the bay area. Our approach is based on a system proven by science, as well as experience. Everything we do is based on the latest advancements, our time in the field, and our dedication to delivering nothing but the best. Our system is results driven and covers every aspect necessary to reach your goals whether it is sports performance, weight loss, or a better quality of life.
Movement Science
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Experience
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Purpose
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"I have had chronic back pain for almost three years and had seen every PT/chiropractor/doctor in the books. I had done MRI's, scoliosis tests, x-rays, etc., and nothing was found and nothing was working. I had been an athlete my whole life and not being able to put my full effort into training was really hard, but my back pain got so bad it began to effect my day to day life. I was taking 2-4 ibuprofen everyday, not working out, spending hours stretching and icing, and more.
I saw Blake about a month ago and one week into seeing him my back was already feeling so much better. No one had ever done such a through examination for my back (he used the FMS) nor gone through so much detail to make sure the exercises were tailored to my needs. Unlike other PT's I had been to who just gave me a generic list of exercises for lower back pain (which still gave me pain while they were supposed to "help") Blake altered exercises to make sure it gave me NO pain. He went step by step and made sure everything was personalized.
Its only been 1 month since I saw Blake and I haven't taken ibuprofen for my back since (coming off 2-4 ibuprofen per day) and for the first time in years I have been able to workout 5 times a week without pain. I still haven't loaded my back with weights and have been playing it safe, but my back hasn't felt this good in years.
The tools Blake has given me have drastically changed my quality of living and I couldn't be more grateful"!
-College Student
"As a former competitive rower, I was used to being in beyond great shape all through my 20's / early 30's. Having hit 40, it's been tough to stay that way, with an ongoing series of "train hard for a few months, get injured, recuperate, repeat".
After another recent injury, trying to get back into rowing shape, another friend recommend Blake.
He did an assessment of range-of-motion and flexibility, and immediately figured out areas where muscles had gotten super tight, causing me to lose range of motion. He was able to point out how my body compensated for that loss by changing my running / walking gait without my even realizing it, potentially contributing to repeated knee injuries over the years. Looking back, I'm actually thinking that this may have been the cause of pronation and related running injuries I had even back in my 20s.
Blake also designed a stretching / exercise regimen that are re-strengthening those areas, something that was easy enough for me to do on my own at home or the gym. Though I'm not 100% yet, just in the last couple of months I can feel a difference in flexibility while walking / jogging, and definitely have a different posture at work.
By contrast, my physician just handed me a piece of paper with some exercises on it after spending 15 minutes with me - not a satisfying outcome.
Blake's been a consummate professional coach, pointing out areas where I need work, and encouraging through the more difficult stretches we've been working on.
As with other reviewers, I can feel my gait changing, and also have a new set of tools / stretches to evaluate myself for potential signs of tightness that I've ignored in the past.
I've already recommended Blake to my wife (also an athlete), and to a running friend. I'd recommend Blake to anyone recovering from an injury, or people wanting to make sure they're working out safely to prevent those injuries to begin with".
- Still an Athlete
"Outstanding master of his craft; incredibly bright with a treasure trove of health and fitness knowledge; expert in rowing, running, weight training; and a warm, spontaneous personality that make workouts fun. Blake Gourley is brimming with the brains to help anyone achieve the brawn. He's the real deal in an industry full of wannabees and is the standard by which any trainer should be measured".
- Valerie L. Richards, PhD
"Training one-on-one with Blake immensely improved my performance in rowing as well as my overall strength. My goal was both to gain weight and muscle mass. Within just two months, I gained around ten pounds of muscle, improved my 6K time by over 25 seconds, and received many comments from teammates on how "jacked" I looked. Blake's program is both fun and challenging, with minimal negative impact on the body. Blake's routine also taught me how to train independently. I continue to use many of the workouts I learned from Blake in my training at the University of Pennsylvania. I highly recommend training with Blake"!
-Collegiate Rower
"Working with Blake has been fantastic. He's definitely been one of the most instrumental people for my success in rowing. Constantly finding new workouts to improve performance and recovery, and always being incredibly supportive. Training with Blake is definitely a great way to increase performance."
-Collegiate Rower